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Safe to Disconnect A/C Belt on 89 Caravan 3.0 L?

Hi, Gang:

I have an 89 Grand Caravan that, despite 201k miles on the clock, still runs and looks pretty good. Of course, its on its third tranny and second engine...but that's another Caravan tale... :)

During a long road trip a few months ago, my A/C compressor more or less died. I had the fan/blower on for defrost which, I guess, must run the A/C for some reason. Anyway, when I stopped for gas I heard a nasty squealing noise under the hood that stopped when I turned off the interior fan. I also noticed that the A/C compressor was toasty hot and had oozed most of all of whatever was lubricating it internally. I haven't turned on the fan since....

But now that it's winter in MN...I'd like the fan on for heat and defrost...but I don't have a spare pile of cash laying around to fix the A/C...

I'd like to simply disconnect the A/C belt because it's not worth fixing... So...

  1. Does the 89 3.0 L run the a/c on its own belt? (I think it does.)

  1. If so, can I simply disconnect it, disabling the compressor (while still running the blower for normal heating and defrosting)?

Thanks for your help,

--KK in MN

Reply to
sohosources
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Yes it does have its own belt, since the clutch is probably shot causing the compressor to stay engaged all the time you will have to remove the belt. A disconnect of the connector will not work. The only problem here is when you get allot of moisture in the vehicle from the snow, your windows will collect it and the inop a/c will not get it out. That is why the a/c request has been programmed into the defrost mode.

Glenn Beasley Chrysler Tech

Reply to
maxpower

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